Charity: The Perfection we are all striving towards

·        I was called to serve in the Japan Fukuoka Mission and entered the Missionary Training Center early last year. Many of you who have been following me already know that my mission experience has been…interesting. I came home twice on two separate occasions. The first time I got very ill in the MTC and came home. After my health was sorted out, I was out for almost 6 more months when I was hit by a car and ended up with a broken foot and was sent home again. It took almost 6 months for my foot to heal enough to allow me to return to Japan.

·        While I was out on my mission, I remember being challenged by my leaders to frequently study the attributes of Christ. In the missionary manual , “Preach my Gospel” there is a chapter titled “How to I develop Christ-like attributes?” At the back of this chapter there is an assessment you can take that allows you to rate yourself on several different qualities. I took this assessment several times while on my mission and learned a lot about areas on which I could improve or areas where I personally just wanted to be better or learn more about. Luckily, I was asked to speak on one of those for my homecoming talk; that topic is Charity. 

·        What is charity? How would you define charity? Moroni 7:47 reads, “Charity is the pure love of Christ.” Now let’s go a little deeper into specific sub-qualities of a person who exhibits charity. Moroni 7:45 reads, “And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and enveith not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things.” 

·        On my mission I really developed a sincere love for the scriptures. I looked forward to personal study each day and would read any extra opportunity I could find at some times. From that love of scripture study stemmed love of dissecting some of the verses I would come across. I remember coming across this very verse of scripture and doing that. 

·        “Charity suffereth long” could mean that a person who has charity also has patience and diligence. They endure and keep showing love and charity even when trials and hardships come.

·        “Charity enveith not” is the same as not coveting. Someone who has charity also has an attitude of gratitude; a love and appreciation for what you do have.

·         “Charity is not puffed up and seeketh not her own”. I took this to mean that someone who has charity cares a lot about serving others. They look for opportunities to serve others and truly care about them. They do not boast in themselves but attribute everything they have to their loving Heavenly Father. They are self-less.  

·        “Charity is not easily provoked and thinketh no evil”. This could again mean having patience. Also in having patience, controlling our thoughts, even when we are angry at something or someone. One is quick to forgive and turn the other cheek.

·         Finally, “Charity rejoiceth in the truth”. As I read this section, I asked myself, do I keep myself receptable to the Spirit so I can “rejoice in the truth”? Perhaps rejoicing in the truth means those moments when we feel our souls truly connecting with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Or a time when we really feel the love of God, the Spirit in our lives. 

·         So in taking a deeper look at the scripture Moroni 7:45, we discover that Charity practically encompasses all of the Christ-like attributes such as patience, diligence, brotherly kindness, virtue, and more.  Again, “Charity is the pure love of Christ”. Purity suggests perfection and we are all working towards perfection in this life. This makes developing Charity a lifelong process. It is not something we can expect to develop overnight. 

·        So how can we develop Charity and in what areas of our lives can we focus on developing it? For starters there are two ways we can develop charity. The first is to follow the commandments of God. The second is to study the life of our most perfect example Jesus Christ. By studying His life and His teachings, we can know who to emulate and how we should do it.  Now the areas of our lives we can focus on applying charity and love is for God, others, and ourselves.

·        First is developing love for God. Think to yourself about how you personally show your love for God.  We can show our love in many ways, but I’d like to mention two. 

·        We can show our love by listening to and heeding the promptings that He gives to us. When I was in my second area my companion and I were biking past a grocery store and we saw this young woman coming up the sidewalk and I had a prompting to stop her. I dismissed it at first because there were a few people trying to park their bikes close to where she was walking and the sidewalk became really narrow there, but I shoved that aside and talked to her. It turned out to be a very pleasant experience. She was such an optimistic and happy person. My companion and I had the opportunity to talk about her image of God, who we were, what we were doing in Japan and were even able to give her a “Book of Mormon”. Afterwards I recall feeling that God was pleased with me because I had listened and heeded His prompting. I know that this can be true for you too. If you listen to and heed promptings and feelings you get, you will be blessed. 

·        We can also show our love for God by keeping His commandments. We have all read it in the Bible, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Loving God is also actually connected to the second area of our lives where we can apply charity. That is in showing our love for others.  John 13: 34 reads, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” As I share two more stories from my mission, I ask that you think to yourself about how actively involved you are in showing love to others. 

·        The first story was when I was a recipient of Charity and love. After the car accident I was still in Japan for about 2 weeks getting lots of things figured out. My companion was Sister Nelson at the time. During those tough weeks, she was the perfect example to me of a charitable and loving companion. She was quick to serve and help and always had a smile on her face. Even on the days when I was sad or even did not want to be served, she was always there. My experience with her left me with a determination to want to be better and to be as charitable as possible with my future companions regardless of the situation or the struggles that I would come to face.

·        The second was after I returned to Japan. My companion Sister Wilson and I were whitewashing an area. (Whitewashing means that you and your companion are both new to the area.)We had nothing to go off of; no investigators or any other people to visit. We spent a lot of time tracting and finding. One day we were asked by our district leader to go visit a less- active who lived pretty far away. We scheduled it for the coming week and the morning came. It was POURING outside, but we continued on. Fourteen miles and two hours later, we arrived soaking wet to this lady’s house. As she came out of the house I remember the smile she had and how happy she was to see missionaries visiting her. She lived so far away that she said she rarely got visitors. It left me feeling like I was walking on sunshine. From that I learned that we can simply have charity for others by giving of our time. Now there are lots of ways we can show charity for others, such as giving time, talents, energy, words of comfort, and more. But when you pay attention to how people respond to love and service that you give, sometimes their happiness radiates out from their souls gracing your heart with love and light.  

·        On another note, I remember a General Conference talk a while back by Elder Russell M. Ballard where we were challenged to ask Heavenly Father in morning prayer, if we could have a service or missionary opportunity. When we do this we are not only showing Charity and love for God, but we are also allowing ourselves to have an opportunity to show love and charity for others as well. I remember Sister Wilson and I made a goal to pray for a service opportunity every day. We then would actively look for them throughout the day.  It seemed that more opportunities came whenever we actively prayed and looked for them. 

·        The third and final area of our lives that we can apply Charity is to have love for ourselves. As a missionary I had to learn that very quickly. It is so easy to be hard on yourself because you have expectations placed on you from several sources but it is still so important to love yourself.  

·        God wants you to love yourself. He created you and loves you beyond all comprehension. He knows you are not perfect, so YOU need to accept that too. If you expect perfection overnight, you are expecting too much of yourself.

·        My lovely trainer Sister Buhler taught me that “you choose”. More specifically “You choose to be happy.” It is your choice. There are no factors, your situation does not matter, you can choose to love yourself and your life no matter what. That in itself is also a process. A tough one, but not impossible. Work hard to notice the little steps, the little degrees of change, the small improvements you are making. God certainly notices them and He wants you to step back and see them the way he does. He wants you to see yourself the way He sees you. 

·        I would like to close with the scripture Moroni 7:46. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.” As I was preparing for this talk, I thought about that statement, “for charity never faileth” Why does it not fail? Why is Charity possibly the most important goal for us to strive towards? Why? It is because it is literally what allowed our Savior Jesus Christ to complete the Atonement. It is what enabled Him to suffer for all of our sins, pains, and weaknesses so we could have an opportunity to gain eternal life.  Again, we must not beat ourselves up if we cannot develop perfect charity by tomorrow, because it was charity is perfect love, and that  is what enabled the Atonement. Yet, on a daily basis,  we can still work towards developing a love that can come close to what was shown to us through the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that this is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Math vs. The Spirit

So, remember how I said that I had served exactly "6 months" and had exactly "1 year" left to serve? Well, I was wrong. I'll start from the beginning. When I came back I had two different companions thus far, who were to receive their "death calls" while I was with them. A "death call" is a phone call from the Mission Home telling you what day you're flying home, or if you want to take the early transfer. I came back out on May 8th, so, naturally, I believed that I would leave in May. So, I was determined to keep my May 22nd "death date" and not choose the early transfer of April 9th. As my 4th transfer back out in the field began, my mind began pondering on the April 9th date. But, I always shoved it away, thinking "No, that will put you at 17 months! You've already almost had a 1-month mission, and then a 6-month mission. I'm not letting you have a 17 month mission." Little did I know, that my math was way off. Rather than receiving my death call at the end of November as planned, I received it mid-October. I was asked if I'd go home April 9th or take the early transfer of February 27th. I was really upset and confused. I was told that April 9th was the date on my record at Church Headquarters. After the phone call, I felt prompted to pull out my old journals and check dates...I did. It turns out that I was actually OVER  "6 months served" when I came home after the accident. I thought my one year mark was next month. It's actually next week!! (October 25) So, April 9th truly is the correct date, and puts me over 17 months. The Spirit tried telling me earlier, but I just wouldn't listen, because all I could see was the numbers. Bottom line: Don't question spiritual promptings. Sometimes your personal judgment or perspective may be incorrect. So trust your loving Father in Heaven who sees the whole picture and has a perfect plan just for you.

Dancing in the Rain

So apparently the rainy season is over here in Japan, yet the weather has been crazy! We have had a lot of rain on and off, and even a few lightening storms.
One day, Southworth Shimai and I went out just to drop off a card for a sick member before we started our Weekly Planning Session. On the way back to our apartment we stopped this girl and talked to her about the Book of Mormon and God. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and not even 30 seconds after we biked away, it started POURING. We were soaked within seconds. The miracle? It didn't start raining until AFTER we talked to the lady. Had it started while we were talking to her, it probably would not have gone as well.
The other miracle we saw recently blew my mind. We were knocking doors when we ran into a very religious woman. She was VERY devoted to God and talked about Him, Jesus Christ, and the Bible with so much enthusiasm. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she got SO EXCITED. We talked to her for an hour at her door. It was great!!
I know that the Lord looks out for each and every one of us and hears our prayers. He wants to shower us with a rain of blessings. But if you are stubborn, prideful, or living in a way you shouldn't it is like using an umbrella in the rain. The blessings are in reach, you just have to let go, turn to the Lord, and let them rain down on you. (1 Nephi 11:16-17)

Fujisaki Fun

Well, I've just recently started my 6th transfer and I'm still in Fujisaki Area! This makes me happy because I have come to really like this area. I have also gotten a new companion. Her name is Southworth Shimai. She actually was a brand-new missionary in the apartment in Ube last year when I got in the accident . Anyways, she is a lot of fun! She has a sincere desire to be the Lord's missionary and wants to work hard. What a great companion!
I recently read an excellent talk by Elder Holland titled "Lessons from Liberty Jail." It is so great!! You should read it sometime. After reading it, my testimony that the Lord loves us, even when we are in deep trials, was confirmed. One excerpt from the talk particularly struck me and I would like to share it. "...you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, let me say that even a little stronger: You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life..." A friend of mine recently talked about how perspective affects our lives. I know for a fact that the way you look at trials in your life; the perspective you take, will majorly affect how you go through and eventually overcome that trial. Know that in what seems like your darkest night, the Lord is always there, and an even brighter morning is just around the corner. :) I know for a fact that the Lord gives us trials because they make us stronger and challenged us to rise to the great potential within us. Turn to Him. Trust Him. Know that He can lead you to something even greater than you could possibly imagine. If you get a chance read "The Challenge to Become" by Dallin H. Oaks. It expands a little on what I've said. I love you all!!

Where you are Meant to be

It's been forever since my last post so I apologize, but things are going great!! So after my first transfer in Fukuoka, I got my transfer call and was transferred to Fujisaki!! Fujisaki is actually still Fukuoka City, but more on the outskirt, and is considered a separate area within the Japan Fukuoka Mission. Fujisaki area is AMAZING!! I love it here and I hope that when transfer calls come in a couple of weeks that I'll be told I'm staying. I have really come to love the members in this ward, the less-actives my companion and I visit, the investigators, the people on the street, and the area. I have probably said this is previous posts, but Japan is SO BEAUTIFUL!!! Going out is even more enjoyable because there is a scenic backdrop everywhere we bike. I am confident, that in the mission, your mission president truly is connected with the Lord when it comes to making changes at transfers.I've never felt so strongly connected to an area before, so I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be.
Missions are great!! They are very hard and trying a big chunk of the time, but they are such an enjoyable and enriching moment as well. You learn the true meaning of happiness, how to be happy, and how to serve others very well on your mission. If you have the chance to serve, SERVE. It is NEVER too early to prepare to serve the Lord. It is also NEVER too late to write a missionary. I want to hear from all my amazing friends and family members, so please write!! I love you all!! This church is true!!

Return to the land that holds my Heart.

I am officially back in Japan, and now my sister has taken over putting my blog posts up again. I am so happy to be back here!! Everything is familiar and it feels great. The streets, food, smells, people, scenery, everything!!! I came over with a group of missionaries from the MTC. Once we get to the Mission Home, generally the Japanese missionaries who do not know English are quiet during moments where we can talk. This time, since I had some experience with the language, I was actually able to communicate with them somewhat. I even served as  a source of translation once or twice when communication was needed later at night when getting ready to crash. It was an enjoyable experience. Apparently, I have been blessed with even faster Japanese language recall then I anticipated. 

My first area I have been called to serve in is Fukuoka, Fukuoka City!!! I am 20 minutes from the temple and mission home, there are abut 14 missionaries total on the area, AND I go to church with the Mission President and his wife! How amazing is that? It really brings a sense of peace and focus to be able to see them more often. My companion, Wilson Shimai, is amazing. She is from Utah and we have so much in common. She is friendly and we have had a lot of fun together in the short time we have been companions thus far. It is going to be a very enjoyable experience working with her.

I am SO HAPPY to be back doing the work of the Lord. I am happy to be back in MY mission, Japan, Fukuoka working with the Mission President and missionaries that I know. This is an amazing work and this gospel is PERFECT. Never forget that. A knowledge of the gospel is the most valuable thing anyone could ever have on this planet. Cherish it, live it, share it!!

A Call for Optimisim

I never anticipated being home for six months. Before I left Japan to come back home, I expressed to my companion that I was stressed about not being in an environment immersed in the Japanese language for 3... long.... months. 6 months later, although I have lost some of the language, as I have studied, my recall has been very solid and quick. I am so grateful and happy that I will be returning to the original mission the Lord has extended to me; the Japan Fukuoka Mission. I have 6 months completed and 1 year left to go and serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I know that my first transfer back will probably leaving me feeling like some weird  version of  green bean, but I am confident now that I will be able to tackle it. I am BEYOND excited to return, anxious, but very excited. I am excited to jump back into the life of a missionary in Japan. 

Sometimes things happen in our life that we cannot change or control, but we can control how we react to those things. What I have learned is to choose to be optimistic. No matter what the situation or trial is I promise that you will be able to find something positive in it or out of it. The key thing is you have to exert effort to look for it. I have been told on more than one occasion that I am an optimistic person and I intend to uphold that image no matter what my mission or life in general throws at me. It is honestly just the easier and less taxing way to go in the end. The next time a challenge or trial comes your way try to look for a positive note or silver lining. We cannot always change our circumstances or challenges, but we can always change our attitude and thoughts concerning them. That I promise, is where you will receive power in the challenges of your life.  

"...The Heavenly Virtue of Patience is Required."

In Preach my Gospel, Chapter 6 it read, “Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith—you must wait for the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled.

You need patience in your everyday experiences and relationships, especially with your companion. You must be patient with all people, yourself included, as you work to overcome faults and weaknesses.”

            I would just like to give an update because I assume there are probably are a few people out there who are confused as to why I am still here. Before my mission I would honestly have considered “patience” to be one of my weakest attributes, now I would say it is a lot stronger than it used to be. I have been enduring a lot of delays and waiting as of recently concerning my mission. I remember telling multiple people that I should be out of here in “about 2 weeks”…I said that 2 months ago…First the delay was with getting my foot a little stronger and more pain-free, after that it was a huge dental issue that cropped up, and I currently don’t know what the paperwork delay is but I firmly believe after everything I have been through as of recently that everything happens for a reason.

The Lord will consecrate every loss for our gain and He will guide us. He really does know what is best for us and we just need to trust Him and yield to Him. So even if you do not understand why you are not getting what you want when you want it, take a step back and remember that the Lord is in charge. He knows you better than you know yourself and He is currently trying to lay out the best path that will lead you to the best life possible for you. The life that will lead you safely back to Him to dwell happily with Him forever. Sometimes that requires changes and delays, some that are even painful or difficult to endure. The question is are you patient and trusting enough to accept His will and timing for YOU? 

Decisions and Personal Revelation

So after 2 long months of studying, praying, and pondering, I have finally come to the conclusion that going back out on my mission is where the Lord wants me to be. Some people were shocked when they heard I was even considering an alternative to a mission. All I have to say to that is we all have our personal trials, and being sent home on medical release from my mission for a second time was a lot harder than it looks. Just like all trials and choices people go through, oftentimes comfort is sought not only through a loving Heavenly Father and the scriptures, but also through family and friends. But the bottom line is, the decision has to come from YOU. If it does not, then no matter which path you take, you will not be truly happy.

                I cannot describe the peace I felt when I finally received my answer. Heavenly Father loves each of us so much and sometimes He withholds answers to our prayers for a reason. We may not know why, but someday we will know and it will make sense. He knows each of us perfectly, better than we know ourselves actually. Therefore, we must trust Him in ALL aspects of our lives and be willing to jump when He asks us to jump and wait when he asks us to wait. I now know for myself that I will be going back out on my mission because I want to; not because I feel pressured to, or feel like I am supposed to, or feel like it is expected of me, but because I want to.  I feel that the Lord needs me back out in Japan and I am prepared to fill that need for the last year that I owe to Him. My first 6 months were more than AMAZING. I now plan to give this last year everything I have and so much more.

                While I was going through all this, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to a young woman that was also on medical release from my same mission; only she had received personal revelation that she was supposed to stay home and she was happy and confidant with that decision. Sometimes that happens with missionaries. We cannot fully comprehend the wisdom of our Heavenly Father but we must trust it; whether it is concerning us or it is concerning someone else. I would like to share an analogy I found online that concerns early return missionaries.

In the military, the view of completing missions and of wounded comrades is quite different from our view of similar situations in religious missions. If soldiers rush into battle and are wounded on their first mission or 50th mission, they are treated the same. They are given medals. They are applauded for their service, no matter how long. Their brothers and sisters at arms risk their own lives to rescue and restore those soldiers to their homes. No one looks at them differently. No one says, “Well, you didn’t really help the war effort, did you?” or “Toughen up, man. It’s just a bullet.” These brave men and women are honored and respected for their service.

So should it be with missionaries. We were willing to go where the Lord asked. Sometimes we get hurt. All we ask for is acceptance and love. We return with dread, hoping our partial offering will still be acceptable to those we care about most. My hope is that every missionary will be loved and respected. With your understanding and support, it can happen.

No matter who it is; just express love and support for any and all missionaries who return from the mission field, whether it be after the usual 2 years/ 18 months, or if it be shorter. That is all we need; love and support.                 

Missionary work is amazing and fulfilling. It changes your life when you spend every day focused on others, serving others, and teaching others about Jesus Christ. I have enjoyed my mission so much and cannot wait to continue it. I will be home for another month or so to continue getting my foot back into tip top shape but I am going back. I am excited to see the amazing fellow missionaries I have befriended, my spectacular mission president and his wife, the humble and sweet people of Japan, and the feeling of being reimmersed in the Lord’s work of Salvation. This gospel is true and I cannot wait to continue sharing that to my brothers and sisters in Japan.